How Belichicks defensive insights helped Brady learn to play QB

By PAUL KENYON | | Journal Sports Writer

Wednesday

Jan 25, 2012 at 2:30 PM

FOXBORO — Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are now officially Super Bowl record holders. By qualifying for the game for the fifth time, they move past Tom Landry-Roger Staubach, Marv Levy-Jim Kelly and Chuck Noll-Terry Bradshaw for the most appearances i

FOXBORO - Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are now officially SuperBowl record holders. By qualifying for the game for the fifth time,they move past Tom Landry-Roger Staubach, Marv Levy-Jim Kelly andChuck Noll-Terry Bradshaw for the most appearances in the game.Earlier this season, Belichick and Brady established the mark formost overall victories by a coach and quarterback combination inthe Super Bowl era, they now have 125. There is no doubt the pairbelong among the best ever in the NFL.

Those who have been around since the two began working together11 years ago know that it has been a real partnership. An incidentthat happened 10 years ago this month provided one of the firstindications how well the two would be able to help each other.

It was January 2002. After beginning the season 0-2 and losingstarting quarterback Drew Bledsoe to injury, the Patriots finishedwith an 11-5 record and a playoff berth with Brady as quarterback.Two days before the divisional round playoff game against Oakland -a game destined to be remembered as the Tuck Rule game, a reporterasked Belichick who was coaching Brady.

Dick Rehbein began the season as the quarterbacks coach. Rehbeinwas the coach who worked out Brady before the 2000 NFL Draft, theone person most convinced the Michigan quarterback could play inthe NFL. Rehbein was the biggest reason the Pats selected Brady inthe sixth round, with the draft's 199th pick.

However, during training camp at Bryant College, the 45-year-oldRehbein died of heart failure. The Patriots decided not to nameanyone to replace him. Thus, the quarterbacks went through theseason without a designated coach for their position.

"Charlie (Weis, the offensive coordinator) coaches thequarterbacks," Belichick explained, "but I have some meetings withthem when Charlie is doing coordinator-type things with the rest ofthe team. We've been doing it that way all year. I try not to screwhim up."

Later, the locker room opened, and two reporters, including onefrom The Providence Journal, went to talk to Brady about it. WhenBrady meets with reporters these days, it almost always is frombehind a microphone in the team's media room. Back then, before thePatriots won all those titles, it was easier to talk to himdirectly.

Brady excitedly related how much Belichick's coaching had helpedhim.

He explained that the head coach did not work on his mechanicsor his throwing motion or any of other things a quarterback coachwould work on. Rather, Belichick would explain what defenses do totry to deceive a quarterback.

Brady said it was unlike any other coaching he had everreceived.

"When you are around him, you learn," he began. "I will say,'Well, coach, why did they do this?' And he'll say, 'If I was thedefensive coordinator, this is what I would be doing.' It's prettyneat to get that type of input. Normally, you don't get that typeof insight."

"Coach, why did they play this coverage?" Brady went on. "Well,this is their run blitz. Or this is their pass blitz. Or this iswhat their defensive coordinator is like. This is what theirdefensive coordinator has done for the last 12 years. That stuff.It helps a lot.

"He does seem to like it," Brady said of having Belichick workwith him one-on-one. "It's helped us a lot because he reallyunderstands the defense. He really understands what they're tryingto do."

This year, Bill O'Brien is the quarterbacks coach as well asoffensive coordinator. Josh McDaniels had the job before him, andlikely will have it again next season. John Hufnagel was the QBcoach before McDaniels. Still, there's no doubt that Belichickremains heavily involved. The documentary done by NFL films onBelichick, "A Football Life," illustrated the Brady-Belichickrelationship nicely.

At one point in the film, Brady throws an interception. When hecomes to the sideline, Belichick berates him for making a baddecision. Brady tries to explain, but the coach waves him away andgets on with the game. Brady might be the star, but Belichicktreated him in that instance the same way he would any player onthe team who made a bad play.

At another point in the film, Brady is in Belichick's office,just the two of them going over film. The two talk about possibleplays to use. Brady describes a play to the coach, and thenillustrates it as Belichick sits and listens intently. The coachdecides that Brady's suggestion is worth trying. Clearly, the scenepoints out, it has reached the point where the coach is willing totake suggestions from the quarterback.

Earlier this season, as Belichick and Brady were about to passthe Dolphins duo of Don Shula and Dan Marino for the record formost victories together by a head coach and quarterback, the twospoke about their relationship.

Brady was asked what the secret was to working together so long,so successfully. "I have no idea what it takes. I really don't," hereplied. "I think I'm just fortunate to be here for as long as I'vebeen here and to play under coach Belichick."

"I get a ton of help from our coaches," Brady said during one ofhis weekly appearances on radio station WEEI. "Of course we do. Ithink we have the best coach in the history of football. We have agreat offensive staff, a great defensive staff that gets all theplayers prepared."

Belichick spoke about communicating.

"We have spent, through the years, a decent amount of timetogether on a regular basis," the coach said. "We talk regularlyduring the week about what's going to happen, how we're doing it,and then we review what did happen and then we move on to the nextstage.

"I think it's important that both philosophically and from agame-management standpoint that the coach and quarterback are onthe same page."

Belichick and Brady are now 125-33. Shula and Marino was116-68.

Next week, Belichick, Brady and all the Patriots will head toIndianapolis for the team's fifth Super Bowl in 11 years. There isno doubt that Belichick's coaching has helped make Brady a betterquarterback. And, by the same token, no doubt that Brady'squarterbacking has made Belichick a better coach.

pkenyon@providencejournal.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.